Keno-style poker method and system

ABSTRACT

A system and method for playing a keno style game of poker. In the play of the game, a plurality of initial player hands are presented to players before wagers are received. Values of a plurality of the hands are disclosed, while the value of at least one mystery hand is not disclosed. After a wager is made, the value of the mystery hand is disclosed. Community cards are then provided and game play proceeds, with the winning hand being the highest ranking hand that is a combination of initial hands and community cards.

RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority from provisional application No. 61/254,931, filed on Oct. 23, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to keno and poker style games and, more particularly, to a keno version of Texas Hold'em.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The card game of poker, with its many variations, has become an extremely popular form of entertainment. The general aim of poker is to either collect a five card hand that is better than the five card hand of one or more opponents, or to try to bet in such a way as to cause opponents to believe that their hand is inferior and subsequently “fold” (concede or turn in) their hand. Typically, the game of poker involves several players competing against one another for one cumulative “pot” or sum of money. In casinos, the dealer or “house” draws a percentage, otherwise known as “the rake,” of each pot, thus generating revenue regardless of which player wins each hand. Poker may also be played as a keno game.

One of the most popular poker games is Texas Hold'em. In Texas Hold'em, each player receives an initial hand of two cards. Typically, there is a betting round followed by the dealing of three community cards face-up, known as “the flop.” After another betting round, a fourth community card, known as “the turn” is dealt face-up. After yet another round of betting, the final community card, known as “the river” is dealt face-up. After the river, there is a final round of betting, assuming two or more players remain in the game. In Texas Hold'em, a player may use any combination of the two initial cards dealt to each player and the five community cards to form the best five-card poker hand. In fact, in Texas Hold'em, it may be possible to use neither of the two cards dealt to the player, and form a best five-card hand solely from the five community cards.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,417 discloses a keno type of game based on the rules of Texas Hold'em. In the keno game disclosed in the '417 patent, there are five two-card player hands, each of which is disclosed in advance to all players. The five community cards are all concealed at the beginning of the game. The player selects one or more player hands for wagering, the community cards are exposed, and a player who has wagered on the highest value player hand wins. There is an important drawback associated with the game disclosed in the '417 patent. Because all player hands are exposed to the player, there is no chance that a player can “draw” a truly outstanding player hand, like a pair of aces.

The present invention is directed to a keno-style Hold'em game in which at least one of the initial player hands is a “mystery” hand, in which the two-cards comprising that initial hand are concealed until after a player has wagered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for playing a keno-style poker game is disclosed. The method comprises: providing, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of initial player hands; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is disclosed to a wagering player before a wager is received from the wagering player; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the wagering player until after the wagering player has wagered; receiving from the wagering player a wager on at least one of a disclosed initial player hand and a concealed initial player hand and entering the wager into a computing device; disclosing to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of community cards after the wagering player has wagered; ranking a value of player hands, utilizing a computing device, wherein each player hand comprises a combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards; determining, utilizing a computing device, which of the plurality of player hands has the highest value; and awarding a payout amount to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for playing a keno-style poker game is disclosed. The method comprises: providing, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of initial player hands; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is disclosed to a wagering player before a wager is received from the wagering player; wherein a value of only one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the player until after the wagering player has wagered; receiving from the wagering player a wager on at least one of a disclosed initial player hand and a concealed initial player hand and entering the wager into a computing device; disclosing to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of community cards after the wagering player has wagered; ranking a value of player hands, utilizing a computing device, wherein each player hand comprises a combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards; determining, utilizing a computing device, which of the plurality of player hands has the highest value; and awarding a payout amount to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a system is disclosed. The system comprises: at least one processor; and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: provide a plurality of initial player hands; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is disclosed to a wagering player before a wager is received from the wagering player; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the wagering player until after the wagering player has wagered; receive from the wagering player a wager on at least one of a disclosed initial player hand and a concealed initial player hand; disclose to the wagering player a plurality of community cards after the wagering player has wagered; rank a value of player hands wherein each player hand comprises a combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards; determine which of the plurality of player hands has the highest value; and award a payout amount to the wagering player if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a wagering ticket which may be utilized in connection with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplar of a best hand pay table, which may be utilized in connection with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplar of a flop bonus pay table, which may be utilized in connection with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot depicting a display of initial player hands in connection with an embodiment of the present invention, with one initial player hand concealed.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot depicting initial player hands, after wagering and following the display of the concealed player hand of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a screen shot depicting display of the “flop.”

FIG. 7 is a screen shot depicting display of the “turn.”

FIG. 8 is a screen shot depicting display of the “river.”

FIG. 9 is a screen shot depicting display of the winning hand, following play of all community cards.

FIG. 10 is a screen shot depicting display of the flop bonus winning hand, following play of all community cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to a system and method for playing a keno-style poker game and, in one embodiment, a keno version of the popular poker game known as Texas Hold'em.

The basic rules of play of the poker game of the present invention are described, initially with reference to FIGS. 4-9. Before a player places a game wager as herein described, a plurality of initial player hands 12 are displayed. In a Texas Hold-em style embodiment as illustrated in these figures, there are five displayed initial hands and each displayed initial hand contains two cards. As illustrated, at least one initial hand is a “mystery” hand, wherein the cards comprising that initial hand are concealed from the player until after a wager has been placed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the displayed initial hands have different values or potential values, according to general rankings of poker hands. For example, the hand identified as “Double Nickles” begins with a pair. “Regal Suicide” displays two face cards of the same suit, and thus could form part of a Royal Flush, depending on the community cards that are displayed, and is the only displayed hand presenting this possibility. The cards comprising “Penny Diamond” could form part of a straight or even a straight flush.

A player can wager on one or more of the displayed initial hands, in one of the manners described below, based on the player's preferences. A player hoping for a larger payout, and less concerned with the odds, may wish to select Regal Suicide. Double Nickles, which begins with a pair, could be a desired selection for a more conservative player. Some players, however, may not prefer to select any of the displayed initial hands. They may prefer the mystery and potentially greater upside associated with the mystery hand 14 which could, for example, consist of a pair of aces or a pair of face cards.

It should be noted that game play is preferably with a standard 52 card deck with no jokers. Thus, the cards that are displayed as part of initial hands 12, as well as the cards that are allocated to mystery hand 14, are “withdrawn” from the deck and are not available to be selected as community cards.

As shown in FIG. 5, after players have placed their wagers, the cards comprising the mystery hand 14 are displayed. Thereafter, the community cards are dealt. In the Texas Hold'em embodiment of the present invention, the community cards 16 are dealt in three stages: (a) the flop, consisting of three cards; (b) the turn, consisting of one card; and (c) the river, consisting of one card.

After all of the community cards 16 have been deal, each of the initial player hands 12 and 14 are combined with the community cards 16 to determine the highest ranking five-card hand, according to standard rules of Texas Hold'em. The highest ranking hands for each of the initial player hands 12 and 14 are then compared. Player payouts may be determined according to the following rules:

1. If the five community cards 16 form the highest ranking hand, then the round is a push for each player who placed a wager. In this embodiment, each player will receive a return of his or her wager. In other words, in order for a player to win a prize that is in excess of the amount of the wager, at least one of the cards in the player's initial hand has to be “live,” i.e., has to form part of the winning hand, in combination with one or more of the community cards.

2. If one or more players hold the highest ranking hand, then such player is paid according to the pay table for the rank of that highest hand. An example of such a pay table for use in the present invention is provided in FIG. 2. It should be noted that two or more initial player hands can tie, in which case both are entitled to a payout as set forth in the pay table. For example, if the Mystery hand 14 is an Eight of Hearts and a Seven of Spades, and if the community cards 16 are a Nine of Spades, Eight of Clubs, Six of Diamonds, Five of Clubs, and Three of Hearts, both the Mystery hand 14 and Penny Diamond have a straight of equal rank.

The hit frequency for each of the initial player hands 12 and 14 and a push, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-9, is as follows:

Hand Hit Frequency Regal Suicide 25.8803 Big Slick 23.1342 Penny Diamond 19.3423 Double Nickles 17.1504 Mystery 8.7453 Beer Hand 7.3250 Push 0.0831 (Because Ties can Occur, the Hit Frequencies Add Up to More than 100%.)

As illustrated in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the payout amount may be different, depending on the particular hand wagered on. In general, payout amounts where the winning hand is the mystery hand 14 are higher than the amounts for the same value hands, where the initial hand was one of the displayed initial hands 12.

In one embodiment, a flop bonus wager option may be provided. According to this option, a player with the best five-card hand, based only on cards in the selected initial player hand and the first three community cards, wins a jackpot amount according to a flop bonus pay table, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3.

In one embodiment, three games may be played in sequence, and may be displayed on the same screen, as shown in FIGS. 4-9. In this embodiment, the current game may be displayed in a relatively larger window located in the center of the screen. When that game is completed, the winning five-card hand may be moved to a smaller window below the center, as shown for example in FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a pay slip 20 for use with the method of the present invention is shown. A player completes a pay slip 20 by selecting a number of games to play (e.g., 1, 3, 5, or 15); selecting one or more initial hands; selecting a wager amount; and optionally selecting a flop bonus wager amount and number of games; and selecting which of the three games that the player wishes to play (e.g., games 1, 2 or 3).

In one embodiment, a player may complete pay slip 20 by hand, using a ball point pen or other writing implement. (It should be noted that pay slip 20 could also be of the punch out or scratch off type.) The completed pay slip 20 may then be scanned into the system. Players can then watch the screen and see, for each hand, display of the mystery hand, the three deals of community cards, and the display of the winning hands.

In one embodiment, the pay slip 20 may be scanned at a lottery-style terminal by an attendant. The player may then watch the game on a monitor. In another embodiment, a player may be permitted to scan his or her own pay slip 20, using a suitable scanning device located at a kiosk or the like, may watch the play of the game at an integrated monitor located on the kiosk, and receive a jackpot payout utilizing a dispenser also located on the monitor. In yet another embodiment, the player may be able to place a wager at a point of sale and thereafter “play” the game utilizing a fixed base electronic gaming device or a portable device, such as Planet Bingo's PhD®.

The technology described herein can be implemented as logical operations and/or modules in one or more systems. The logical operations can be implemented as a sequence of processor-implemented steps executing in one or more computer systems and as interconnected machine or circuit modules within one or more computer systems. The resulting implementation is a matter of choice, dependent on the performance requirements of the underlying system implementing the described technology.

The system of the present invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In one embodiment, the system is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the system of the present invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purpose of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable it to become coupled to other data processing systems, servers, remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.

It should be noted that while the present invention has been illustrated based on the rules of Texas Hold'em, it may be practiced with respect to other poker games utilizing a combination of initial player hands and community cards, such as Omaha.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims. 

1. A computer-implemented method for playing a keno-style poker game comprising: providing, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of initial player hands; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is disclosed to a wagering player before a wager is received from the wagering player; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the wagering player until after the wagering player has wagered; receiving from the wagering player a wager on at least one of a disclosed initial player hand and a concealed initial player hand and entering the wager into a computing device; disclosing to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of community cards after the wagering player has wagered; ranking a value of player hands, utilizing a computing device, wherein each player hand comprises a combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards; determining, utilizing a computing device, which of the plurality of player hands has the highest value; and awarding a payout amount to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein each initial player hand comprises two cards.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein a value of only one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the player until after the wagering player has wagered.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein there are five community cards.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein each player hand comprises a five-card combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein each player hand comprises a five-card combination of a two-card initial player hand and three of the community cards.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising awarding a higher payout amount to the wagering player if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value and the highest value player hand includes the concealed initial player hand.
 8. A computer-implemented method for playing a keno-style poker game comprising: providing, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of initial player hands; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is disclosed to a wagering player before a wager is received from the wagering player; wherein a value of only one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the player until after the wagering player has wagered; receiving from the wagering player a wager on at least one of a disclosed initial player hand and a concealed initial player hand and entering the wager into a computing device; disclosing to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, a plurality of community cards after the wagering player has wagered; ranking a value of player hands, utilizing a computing device, wherein each player hand comprises a combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards; determining, utilizing a computing device, which of the plurality of player hands has the highest value; and awarding a payout amount to the wagering player, utilizing a computing device, if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising awarding a higher payout amount to the wagering player if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value and the highest value player hand includes the concealed initial player hand.
 10. A system comprising: at least one processor; and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: provide a plurality of initial player hands; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is disclosed to a wagering player before a wager is received from the wagering player; wherein a value of at least one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the wagering player until after the wagering player has wagered; receive from the wagering player a wager on at least one of a disclosed initial player hand and a concealed initial player hand; disclose to the wagering player a plurality of community cards after the wagering player has wagered; rank a value of player hands wherein each player hand comprises a combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards; determine which of the plurality of player hands has the highest value; and award a payout amount to the wagering player if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein each initial player hand comprises two cards.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein a value of only one of the plurality of initial player hands is concealed from the player until after the wagering player has wagered.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein there are five community cards.
 14. The system of claim 10 wherein each player hand comprises a five-card combination of an initial player hand and at least one of the community cards.
 15. The system of claim 10 wherein each player hand comprises a five-card combination of a two-card initial player hand and three of the community cards.
 16. The system of claim 10 further comprising awarding a higher payout amount to the wagering player if the wagering player wagered on the player hand having the highest value and the highest value player hand includes the concealed initial player hand. 